PA Turnpike News

[Crown Victoria]

If woman can survive, they may find...the PTC still working on the ORT conversion! 

Great 60's songs aside, considering the Thruway's ticket system sections only...they converted the whole thing at once and removed all booths within a year, with a total length of highway and number of interchanges comparable to the PA Turnpike's ticket system. The only reason the PTC isn't doing that is, well, that's not how we do it in PA. We generally take longer than necessary to get less done!

The conversion of tolling to height/axle-based ORT versus weight-based tickets, construction of gantries, and removal of old plazas costs a lot of money. PTC also has a ginormous debt load and a number of other expensive projects underway. It would appear PTC is trying to spread out costs over multiple years versus halting other projects or issuing even more debt to do things on an expedited schedule.

Of course that is all true. That comment was more in jest than anything else, but also to show that it could have been done more quickly. It is also true that highway projects in PA (the I-95 bridge notwithstanding, as that was a different situation) generally take quite a while to progress from initial planning to completion, for various reasons. For example, the Allegheny Tunnel project has been in planning for something like 20 years now, and is still probably 10 years out from completion.  Also, US 222 between Reading and Allentown has been planned for widening for at least 15 years now, but hasn't started construction yet (same for US 22 near Allentown).

I've seen and heard talk about PA doing something for transportation funding this year...it would be nice to see the Legislature address the PTC's debt load along with that. Not counting on it though.

[vdeane]

The conversion of tolling to height/axle-based ORT versus weight-based tickets, construction of gantries, and removal of old plazas costs a lot of money.

So how are they handling it with the hybrid system?  If the remains of the ticket system use weight and the gantries use height/axle, how do they assess tolls for trips that cross between the two?  The gantries wouldn't be able to assess weight and the toll barriers wouldn't be able to assess height/axle.

[Bitmapped]

The conversion of tolling to height/axle-based ORT versus weight-based tickets, construction of gantries, and removal of old plazas costs a lot of money.

So how are they handling it with the hybrid system?  If the remains of the ticket system use weight and the gantries use height/axle, how do they assess tolls for trips that cross between the two?  The gantries wouldn't be able to assess weight and the toll barriers wouldn't be able to assess height/axle.

The entire system converted to height/axles. Apparently the existing plazas were given the equipment to do this.

[Flyer78]

Took my first trip since the conversion, so just some observations.

Each gantry is referred to as a toll point, either as a sign on the gantry (in addition to the milepost location) or on an advance sign. This indicates a toll point is ahead, E-Z Pass or Billed by Mail - no use of the PA Toll by Plate logo.

Some definitely seemed brighter than others, but perhaps surroundings had something to do with that (wide-open areas, versus more limited clear space.)

Each location is a separate transaction posting.

Seemed like the Mid-County and Lake Harmony gantries were still reading tags (observed the strobe) - wonder if they are doing any (further?) testing of reads on the upstream gantry/Toll Point.

Finally, Pocono interchange was signed as closing overnight later this week (I think Thursday night into Friday), but I don't see anything on the Turnpike's website or Twitter/X feed.

[vdeane]

Each location is a separate transaction posting.

Ugh. Why can't anyone other than Massachusetts put them all together into a single posting so that reading E-ZPass statements isn't like assembling a jigsaw puzzle?  I would go so far as to say that it should be required under federal law.

[MASTERNC]

Took my first trip since the conversion, so just some observations.

Each gantry is referred to as a toll point, either as a sign on the gantry (in addition to the milepost location) or on an advance sign. This indicates a toll point is ahead, E-Z Pass or Billed by Mail - no use of the PA Toll by Plate logo.

Some definitely seemed brighter than others, but perhaps surroundings had something to do with that (wide-open areas, versus more limited clear space.)

Each location is a separate transaction posting.

Seemed like the Mid-County and Lake Harmony gantries were still reading tags (observed the strobe) - wonder if they are doing any (further?) testing of reads on the upstream gantry/Toll Point.

Finally, Pocono interchange was signed as closing overnight later this week (I think Thursday night into Friday), but I don't see anything on the Turnpike's website or Twitter/X feed.

The tolls also seem to take longer to post, and not all of them post the same day (even from the same trip).

[MASTERNC]

I pointed this out to the PTC last year when I noticed the toll for going 3 exits in the Philly area would increase nearly 20% with ORT.  Their press releases touted lower tolls or increases less than $1 but failed to note that some of the increases would be significant on a percent basis.  Glad this is coming more to light.

https://www.abc27.com/news/traffic/changes-coming-to-ezpass-on-the-pennsylvania-turnpike/

[jeffandnicole]

I pointed this out to the PTC last year when I noticed the toll for going 3 exits in the Philly area would increase nearly 20% with ORT.  Their press releases touted lower tolls or increases less than $1 but failed to note that some of the increases would be significant on a percent basis.  Glad this is coming more to light.

https://www.abc27.com/news/traffic/changes-coming-to-ezpass-on-the-pennsylvania-turnpike/

"This individual trip is one of the ones that will see a greater increase than others as we work to ensure equity across the entire turnpike system."

Just a bit of a contradiction in that single sentence.  It's equity in the per mile basis, but not when there's short distances between exits.

But it also highlights how news stations are less and less interested in digging into issues that affect their actual viewers.  They'll spend 15 minutes talking about weather that affects you (and still get it wrong because it was a 'tricky storm to forecast', but then just take press releases that are designed to minimize the downsides and read them almost verbatim.  Bonus points for when they use video or a photo of a toll booth from another state.

[Bitmapped]

I pointed this out to the PTC last year when I noticed the toll for going 3 exits in the Philly area would increase nearly 20% with ORT.  Their press releases touted lower tolls or increases less than $1 but failed to note that some of the increases would be significant on a percent basis.  Glad this is coming more to light.

https://www.abc27.com/news/traffic/changes-coming-to-ezpass-on-the-pennsylvania-turnpike/

"This individual trip is one of the ones that will see a greater increase than others as we work to ensure equity across the entire turnpike system."

Just a bit of a contradiction in that single sentence.  It's equity in the per mile basis, but not when there's short distances between exits.

PTC's tolling structure does provide some level of equity in maintenance costs when you figure that segments are directly tied to interchanges, which cost extra to build and maintain on top of mainline mileage. I don't know if $1.09 is the right fee to charge per segment, but having something that accounts for higher expenses in areas with denser interchanges areas beyond straight usage does make sense.

[Crown Victoria]

The PTC updated their Total Reconstruction Initiative map. Looks like the overall pace of reconstruction slows for the next few years, seemingly to focus on the ORT conversion and, of course, the financial picture.

It appears that MP 320-324 and MP 353-355 are the next projects, followed by the Quakertown Interchange area and MP A48-A53. All quiet in Western PA once the Beaver River Bridge is finished until the 2030s...

The Allegheny Tunnel bypass and Breezewood are listed...

https://files.paturnpike.com/production/docs/default-source/resources/traveling-resources/total-recon-map-jan-2025.pdf?sfvrsn=7bf579b5_3

[Mr_Northside]

Drove the stretch between Monroeville & New Stanton last Saturday......  Looks like they have the piers up for the overhead ORT tolling equipment

[wildcat7176]

It appears that MP 320-324 and MP 353-355 are the next projects, followed by the Quakertown Interchange area and MP A48-A53. All quiet in Western PA once the Beaver River Bridge is finished until the 2030s...

Interesting, they are getting started on MP 320-324 this year, and are already widening at MP 312-316, but the design on MP 316-319 won't be completed until 2030, so there will likely be a few years where MP 316-319 is an "awkward" gap in the 6-lane continuous roadway from Downingtown to Bensalem. I know MP 312-316 project might take a little longer since they are also completely redoing the ramps at the Downingtown interchange. And I guess the beginning of widening to Morgantown will likely not start until maybe the late 2030s.

Also, I see no mention of the proposed new slip ramps in Norristown and the new ramps at the Valley Forge interchange, although I'm pretty sure those projects are in very very early design stages.

[Stephane Dumas]

Also, I see no mention of the proposed new slip ramps in Norristown and the new ramps at the Valley Forge interchange, although I'm pretty sure those projects are in very very early design stages.

The Montgomery County had listed a list of PA Tpk corridor reinvestments. https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/1553/PA-Turnpike-Corridor-Reinvestment-Projec

Here what they suggested for the Valley Forge project. https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6705/MontCo_PATurnpike_Report_FINAL_VForge_WEB?bidId=

[wildcat7176]

Also, I see no mention of the proposed new slip ramps in Norristown and the new ramps at the Valley Forge interchange, although I'm pretty sure those projects are in very very early design stages.

The Montgomery County had listed a list of PA Tpk corridor reinvestments. https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/1553/PA-Turnpike-Corridor-Reinvestment-Projec

Here what they suggested for the Valley Forge project. https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6705/MontCo_PATurnpike_Report_FINAL_VForge_WEB?bidId=

Those proposed ramps at Valley Forge would be great for 422 drivers going to the turnpike. No more having to do the time-wasting "u-turn" by getting on 202 north and taking the loop ramp to 76 west.

[Henry]

While Breezewood is getting a makeover, the same thing should be done for Carlisle as well.

[Crown Victoria]

While Breezewood is getting a makeover, the same thing should be done for Carlisle as well.

I seem to remember something about this being mentioned in that I-81 report that came out a few years back...the I-81 Improvement Strategy. I don't believe anything has come of it since.

But yes, I agree. A direct 76/81 interchange would be nice.

[MASTERNC]

Feels like ORT is having glitches. My wife made two round trips in January. I just looked at her NY E-ZPass account and half the tolls had a notice that they were charged based on license plate due to no transponder read. It wasn't even the same gantries consistently. Things worked fine with the toll booths last year and the transponder is only 5 years old.

[Plutonic Panda]

Article about the demolition of the old toll plazas:

https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/obsolete-toll-plazas-along-pa-turnpike-to-be-demolished

[storm2k]

Feels like ORT is having glitches. My wife made two round trips in January. I just looked at her NY E-ZPass account and half the tolls had a notice that they were charged based on license plate due to no transponder read. It wasn't even the same gantries consistently. Things worked fine with the toll booths last year and the transponder is only 5 years old.

We have friends who live in KOP and went to see them for their kid's birthday last month. I checked my transactions. We went from Bensalem to Mid County so we passed under 3 gantries (349, 341, and 336). Only one of the three read my EZPass tag, the other two billed by my plate number. My tags were replaced in recent years as well and everywhere else I've driven and paid a toll, the tag was read fine. Seems like they have some work to do to make everything work properly yet.

[MASTERNC]

Feels like ORT is having glitches. My wife made two round trips in January. I just looked at her NY E-ZPass account and half the tolls had a notice that they were charged based on license plate due to no transponder read. It wasn't even the same gantries consistently. Things worked fine with the toll booths last year and the transponder is only 5 years old.

We have friends who live in KOP and went to see them for their kid's birthday last month. I checked my transactions. We went from Bensalem to Mid County so we passed under 3 gantries (349, 341, and 336). Only one of the three read my EZPass tag, the other two billed by my plate number. My tags were replaced in recent years as well and everywhere else I've driven and paid a toll, the tag was read fine. Seems like they have some work to do to make everything work properly yet.

That was her exact same route as well